Digital Commons Network^™

The Paradoxical Effects Of Emerging Mining Technologies On Psychosocial Work Factors: An Integrated Framework And Research Agenda, Keyao Li, Mengting (Rachel) Xia, Tim Bentley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

As industries strive for healthier, safer, and more productive workplaces, a comprehensive understanding of psychosocial work factors is essential for sustainable improvement. In the context of digital transformation, automation and emerging technologies have led to mixed health and safety outcomes. However, how emerging technologies are reshaping work and organisational structures and driving varied effects, remains unclear. This uncertainty provides little guidance for practitioners and researchers on systematically integrating new technologies to optimise health and safety. This paper argues that a deeper understanding of how the evolving technological landscape affects psychosocial work factors is essential for bridging this research gap. Focusing …

Factors Affecting The Knowledge Of Women On Traditional Hand-Woven Fabric Products In Hongsa District, Xayabouly Province, Laos, Kitsana Chanthakhoun, Khanthavanh Phomlasaboud, Vongpasith Chanthakhoun, Phutthisun Kruekum, Nakarate Rungkawat, Saisakul Fongmul

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This study aimed to investigate the knowledge of traditional hand-woven products and the factors influencing this knowledge among 184 farmers in Hongsa District, Sayabouly Province, Laos. Data were collected through questionnaires and knowledge tests and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. The results showed that over 62.5% of the participants—most of whom were women—had a moderate level of knowledge about traditional hand-woven products. Several factors had a statistically significant positive relationship with knowledge (p < 0.05), including income earned from weaving, frequency of contact with neighbors, education level, and time spent on weaving activities. Conversely, age was found to have a significant negative effect on knowledge levels. These findings suggest that younger, better-educated individuals who are more socially connected and spend more time weaving tend to have higher levels of knowledge. Therefore, interventions aiming to sustain and conserve traditional hand-weaving practices should focus on strengthening knowledge-sharing among community members, improving access to education, and offering targeted training programs. Such efforts could enhance local income opportunities and support the long-term preservation of traditional cultural practices.

Extending The Theory Of Planned Behaviour To Explain Contract Cheating In The Age Of Generative Ai: Evidence From Australian Higher Education, Madugoda Gunaratnege Senali

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Academic contract cheating (CC) poses a significant challenge for Higher Education (HE), a problem that has become more complex with the increasing use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) tools. While similarity detection software can flag AI-generated text, it remains ineffective in identifying CC, potentially displacing misconduct rather than reducing it. Drawing on and extending the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), this study examines how traditional TPB constructs and technology-mediated perceptual factors jointly influence students’ intentions and behaviours related to CC within the Australian HE context. The findings reveal significant direct and indirect pathways linking perceived instructor involvement, detection awareness, …

Music-Based Smart Digital Interventions For Health : A Scoping Review, Jin Hyung Lee, Juri Yun

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This scoping review systematically maps and synthesizes empirical research on smart, digital technology-delivered music interventions for health. Following Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and PRISMA-ScR reporting guidelines, a comprehensive search of six electronic databases yielded 30 included studies spanning four clinical domains: psychological and mental health, neurological and motor rehabilitation, aging and cognitive care, and acute care and symptom management. Studies employed four primary technology categories: mobile applications, artificial intelligence and machine learning systems, wearable biosensors, and alternative interface platforms. Findings demonstrate that smart digital music interventions are broadly feasible and acceptable, with preliminary efficacy across diverse populations. The field …

Traditional Music Kongkil : The Meaning Of Philosophy And The Challenges Of Contemporary Life, Harpang Yudha Karyawanto, Moh Sarjoko, Heri Murbiyantoro

Journal of Urban Culture Research

Traditional Kongkil music from Bungkal Village, Ponorogo, East Java, Indonesia, constitutes a form of local cultural heritage imbued with philosophical and social meaning. As a bamboo-based musical tradition employing slendro and pelog scales, Kongkil reflects the relationship between humans and nature while articulating values of social harmony within the community. This study aims to examine the philosophical meanings embedded in Kongkil music and to analyze its transformation in response to contemporary social and cultural change. The research employs a descriptive qualitative method, with data collected through observation, in-depth interviews, and literature review. The data were analyzed comparatively to identify patterns …

The Subjectivity And Conformity Issues In Contemporary Practices Of Algorithmic Creativity, Tetiana Sovhyra, Larisa Babushka, Tetiana Andrushchenko, Olena Onischenko, Mykola Brovko

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This article examines the issue of subjectivity and conformism in algorithmic cultural practices (robotic performances and neurocomputer installations “A3 K3 Dragan Ilic," “Alone Together," “NOOR” and “AIBO”). The focus is on the technological features of algorithmic creativity, which is based on machine learning, stylistic imitation and computational data processing. In this context, ethical and legal issues related to copyright and the recognition of artistic works created by artificial intelligence are analyzed. In particular, mechanized artistic practices create the illusion of autonomous creativity, whilst retaining the decisive role of human subjectivity in the organization and interpretation of cultural processes. Algorithmic creativity …

Reflecting Role Of Culture In Place Branding : A Literature Review, Denny Indrayana Setyadi, Indrayana Setyadi, Gregorius Prasetyo Adhitama, Andryanto Rikrik Kusmara

Journal of Urban Culture Research

Culture is a complex and contested concept that cannot easily be understood through a single definition. Nevertheless, culture plays an important role in place branding strategies and is interpreted in diverse ways within place branding scholarship. This study aims to identify and reflect upon the various roles of culture in place branding through a review of previous studies, particularly within the fields of Social Studies and Arts & Humanities published between 2008 and 2026. Using a literature review approach, the study collected data from the Scopus database and employed thematic analysis to examine how culture is conceptualized and positioned within …

Critical Participatory Action Research For Revitalizing Local Music And Performing Arts In The Post-Pandemic Transition Of Salaya, Nantida Chandransu, Chanokchakul Surasi

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This study employs Critical Participatory Action Research (CPAR) to examine the adaptive revitalization of local music and performing arts in Salaya's post-pandemic transition. Through the Collaborative Cultural Action Network (CCAN – comprising artists, academics, administrators, and citizens – the research facilitates a collaborative ecosystem for cultural asset co-creation. Implementation operates across two levels: strategic management of intersubjective agreements, and artistic creativity via a dual-track strategy. This strategy combines active conservation of phleng lae, phleng ruea, lakhon chatri, likay, and trae wong with creative deconstruction, specifically the luk thung song “Yu Yen Pen Suk Na Salaya” and the Kanlapaphruek project. Findings …

Analyzing The Transformation Of Urban Open Spaces In The Historical Process With Cultural Codes : The Case Of Konya Kültürpark, Ayse Tuzun Guner, Fatih Semerci, Suheyla Buyuksahin

Journal of Urban Culture Research

Urban spaces undergo significant physical and social transformations in response to changes in socio-cultural structures. In this process, the functions and meanings of public space are redefined. Urban open spaces, as key components of public space, provide important insights into social structure and cultural dynamics. This study examines Konya Kültürpark, located near the historical city center, through three main periods: pre-Republican, Republican, and post-Republican. The transformation of Kültürpark as an urban open space was analyzed through a literature review and interpreted using cultural codes. Cultural function diagrams were produced to represent spatial use, and a comparative analysis was conducted across …

Developing A Sustainability Framework For Enhancing Public Art Projects In Nigeria Toward Urban Regeneration, Peter Oluwagbenga Odewole, Olanrewaju Timothy Dada

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This study examines the role of public art towards urban regeneration, cultural preservation, and socio-economic development, addressing critical challenges in the Nigerian public art sector. It adopts a qualitative research design based on literature review, and Eisenhardt’s theory-building approach, drawing on secondary data to generate insights from case-based analysis. Two contemporary Nigerian public art initiatives were examined using within-case and cross-case thematic analysis. The study integrates placemaking, cultural economics, social capital, place attachment, and regulatory theories to develop a sustainability framework for enhancing public art practice and administration in Nigeria. The study’s findings indicate that sustainable public art interventions for …

Towards Rural Landscape Planning, The Importance Of Heritage Preservation In Oases In Mediterranean Countries – Case Studies : Siwa Oasis (Egypt), Ghardania Oasis (Algeria), Gafsa Oasis (Tunisia) And Figuig Oasis (Morocco), Mouatassim Souad, Anouk Den Ouden, Özge Özden

Journal of Urban Culture Research

As for this paper, it intends to evaluate the status of conservation of Mediterranean oases such as Siwa of Egypt, Ghardaia of Algeria, Gafsa of Tunisia, and evaluate Figuig of Morocco. The purpose is to outline the measures and recommendations that can be included in practice in order to reconsider heritage protection in Figuig with references to other oases. Hence, in this study, it analyses the main problems and solutions concerning heritage management based on the analysis of the literature and comparison of different cases. Thus, the results highlight the importance of sustaining the involvement of the local communities, the …

Governance, Smart Urbanism & Urban Resilience In The Western Balkans : Comparative Insights From Prishtina, Tirana, And Podgorica, Binak Beqaj, Shqiprim Ahmeti

Journal of Urban Culture Research

The imperative for urban resilience is intensifying globally, yet its application in the transitional context of the Western Balkans remains underexplored. Cities in this region, such as Prishtina, Tirana, and Podgorica, navigate post-conflict recovery, rapid urbanization, socio-economic pressures, and escalating climate threats. While smart technologies and sustainable urban development paradigms offer promising pathways to resilience, their effectiveness is contingent upon robust governance and supportive institutional frameworks, which are often fragmented in these environments. A comprehensive approach is therefore essential for sustainable urban development in the region. This study aims to critically analyze the factors shaping urban resilience in the Western …

Creative Urban Care For Older Adults In Thailand : Drama Therapy And An Innovative Expressive Arts Framework For Better Urban Ageing, Dovrat Harel, Nisara Jaroenkajornkij, Bussakorn Binson, Meytal Fogel Simhony

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This article examines drama therapy with older adults across three institutional contexts in Thailand: Chulalongkorn Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society; Kwong Siew Foundation Hospital; and Sawangkanives Housing, Thai Red Cross Society. Drawing on a practice-based qualitative study involving 60 older adults, facilitator observations, semi-structured interviews, reflective writings, and institutional descriptions, the article explores how drama therapy was adapted across medical, chronic-care, and senior residential settings. The findings suggest that drama therapy supported memory sharing, emotional expression, social connection, belonging, and quality of life among participants. The article argues that drama therapy should be understood not merely as entertainment or supplementary …

Mental Health Professionals’ Perspectives On Essential Elements Of Telehealth Family Psychoeducation For Major Depressive Disorder: An Exploratory Study, Obumneke Obieche, Jing Yu Tan, Sita Sharma, Daniel Bressington, Tao Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Family-inclusive interventions, such as family psychoeducation (FPE), improve outcomes in major depressive disorder (MDD), particularly when tailored to the needs of individuals with MDD, their families, and carers. This study explored mental health professionals’ (MHPs) perspectives on the essential elements of telehealth FPE for MDD, including patients’ and their families’ informational and support needs. An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted as part of the Supportive Program for Advancing Recovery, Knowledge, and Empowerment in Depression (SPARKED) research project, using an online questionnaire targeting MHPs within a regional area of Australia. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and quantitative and qualitative content analysis, …

Quantifying The Fatal And Non-Fatal Burden Of Disease Associated With Child Growth Failure, 2000–2023: A Systematic Analysis From The Global Burden Of Disease Study 2023, Gbd 2023 Child Growth Failure Collaborators, Amanuel Gebremedhin

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Child growth failure (CGF), which includes underweight, wasting, and stunting, is among the factors most strongly associated with mortality and morbidity in children younger than 5 years worldwide. Poor height and bodyweight gain arise from a variety of biological and sociodemographic factors and are associated with increased vulnerability to infectious diseases. We used data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2023 to estimate CGF prevalence, the risk of infectious diseases associated with CGF, and the disease mortality, morbidity, and overall burden associated with CGF.

Methods: In this analysis we estimated the all-cause and …

The Past And Future Of Employment Arbitration At The Federal Arbitration Act’S Centennial, Imre Stephen Szalai

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications

This Article begins with an overview of the FAA's origins, century-long trajectory, and transformation. Next, looking ahead, the Article discusses the future of employment arbitration. In particular, the analysis will center on two significant exemptions from the FAA, the transportation worker exemption found in the original text of the FAA and the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2022. Unfortunately, there have been conflicting judicial decisions interpreting the scope of these exemptions, and these court decisions reveal the tension inherent in a statute originally designed for speed and simplicity and to address a narrow category …

Left-Hand Technique And The Limits Of The Possible, Ricardo Iznaola

Soundboard Scholar

This article conceptualizes classical guitar left-hand technique through a physiomechanical framework that places coordinated movement—particularly shifting—at the center of technical practice. Challenging traditional positional doctrines that privilege static hand forms and digital independence, the author argues that such approaches often disregard the functional anatomy of the limb, resulting in inefficiency, unnecessary tension, and potential injury.   Advancing the principle that form must follow function, the study proposes shifting as the fundamental technical category governing all left-hand procedures. A systematic typology—interpositional, intrapositional, and compound shifting—serves as the basis for analyzing arm-wrist-hand coordination across diverse technical contexts, including extensions and contractions, barrés, slurs, …

Uncertainty-Aware Estimation, Planning, And Control For Tracking Multiple Drifting Patches In Flow Fields, Daniel O. Akanji, Krishnanand N. Kaipa, Cong Wei

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

In this study, we present a replay-based framework for uncertainty-aware persistent tracking of multiple advected surface patches using an autonomous marine vehicle operating in spatiotemporal-varying currents. The method combines three components: local flow estimation, covariance-aware patch-boundary propagation with intermittent boundary fusion, and mission-level scheduling over multiple patches. Each patch is represented by a polygonal boundary, whose vertices are propagated through the estimated flow field while carrying per-vertex covariance, thereby quantifying uncertainty growth during advection. A flow-aware gain-scheduled linear quadratic regulator (LQR) was designed to shape the desired surge speed to take advantage of favorable currents. When the vehicle services a …

University Of Central Florida Graduate Catalog, 2025-2026, University Of Central Florida

UCF Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Impacts Of Teacher Leadership On K-12 Teachers, School Communities, And Students, Jordan Birkeland

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In K-12 education today, teachers are frequently being called upon to lead. Not only are they receiving increasingly more responsibilities, but they are relied upon more to support students and fellow staff in a variety of ways. Therefore, it is important to understand if the development and utilization of teacher leadership is a necessary method to provide schools with a way to support educators and other stakeholders. This literature review explores how teacher leadership is defined and practiced relative to the prevailing leadership models used in K-12 education, and identifies the impacts of teacher leadership on grades K-12 teachers, school …

Objective Assessment In Experiential Learning Contexts, Lily M. Brutger

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Experiential learning is widely recognized as a powerful approach to education; however, empirical evidence demonstrating its effectiveness remains limited. This gap in the literature is due less to the value of experiential learning itself than to the challenges of assessing learning within experiential contexts. Drawing on the foundational experiential learning theories of Kolb (1984) and Joplin (1981), as well as contemporary research on assessment validity and practice, this paper examines the relationship between assessment and experiential learning. It argues that purposeful, objective assessment is essential for maximizing student learning and supporting the credibility of experiential education. The paper synthesizes current …

Reading Comprehension And Secondary Education, Noah W. Hillman

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This literature review is designed to look at how reading takes place in a classroom setting and how teachers might support students as they read - primarily in secondary education (middle and high schools). Students at all levels need scaffolding and support to be successful when interacting with challenge texts. The instructional role of the teacher as it pertains to reading comprehension impacts the success of students’ skills. The literature review examines teacher practices and instructional strategies that can be used to support students’ reading comprehension at the secondary level.

Ai-Supported Socratic Questioning And Instructional Scaffolding: Effects On Student Comprehension, Reshma John

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This literature review examines how the intentional use of artificial intelligence (AI) designed for Socratic questioning and instructional scaffolding affects students' comprehension of course content. The literature suggests that AI is most likely to support comprehension when it prompts students to explain their reasoning, respond to guided questions, reflect on their understanding, and receive support adapted to their needs. In contrast, systems that primarily provide direct answers may encourage overreliance and mask gaps in students' understanding. Overall, the educational value of AI depends less on its availability and more on how it is designed and implemented.

Teaching Primary Sources To Increase Engagement And Build Literacy, Lindsey L. Beaulieu

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis reviews the use of primary sources in education. This literature review analyzes 30 articles regarding educators’ use of primary sources. There are four major themes within the articles: literacy with primary sources, engagement with primary sources, comprehension with primary sources, and examples of primary source units or lessons. While specific teaching topics vary, the overall consensus is that primary sources can help students’ skills with literacy, engagement, and comprehension. A main topic among the research is the educators’ understanding of scaffolding, pre-teaching, choosing primary sources, and re-using the primary sources, to be able to teach students effectively.

Meconium Metal Concentrations And Infant Temperament And Development, Fiona Fogarty

Dissertations and Theses

BACKGROUND: Prenatal exposure to metals poses significant health consequences for early childhood development. Understanding the factors influencing metal concentrations that infants are exposed to in-utero is crucial for developing targeted interventions, particularly when maternal characteristics and environmental factors, may contribute to varying levels. Meconium offers insight into in-utero exposures for the developing infant, and the effect of each individual metal may be mediated or exacerbated by another and therefore should be studied in the context of a mixture. The effect of metal mixture exposure, as measured in meconium, on milestone and temperament outcomes has yet to be determined.

DESIGN: …

Twenty-One Years Of Global Atmospheric Chlorine Inventories From Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier Transform Spectrometer (Ace-Fts) Measurements, N. Raymond, P. Bernath, C. Boone, M. P. Chipperfield

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

We present atmospheric chlorine inventories over 21 years (2004-2024) and five latitude bands (82-60°N, 60-30°N, 30°N-30°S, 30-60°S, 60-82°S) across altitudes from the surface up to 61 km. These inventories were calculated using the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment-Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS) version 5.3 retrievals of the volume mixing ratios (VMRs) of 13 chlorine-containing species. Of these, five are product gases: HCl, HOCl, ClONO₂, COClF, COCl₂, and eight are source gases: CCl₄, CH₃Cl, CFC-11 (CCl₃F), CFC-12 ( CCl₂F₂), CFC-113 (CClF₂CCl₂F}), HCFC-22 (CHF₂Cl), HCFC-141b ( C₂H₃Cl₂F), and HCFC-142b (C₂H₃}Cl₂F). Where necessary, ACE-FTS data were supplemented with data from the TOMCAT 3-D chemical transport model, …

Scanning Electron Microscopy As A Potential Tool For Distinguishing Charcoal From Dark, Oxidized, Biomass, João Vitor Dos Santos, Aleksandar I. Goranov, Lais Gomes Fregolente, Joao Marcos De Lima-Faria, Diego Stefani Teodoro Martinez, Patrick G. Hatcher

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Condensed aromatic carbon (ConAC) is widely used as a proxy for organic materials derived from biomass burning. However, recent evidence shows that ConAC can be also formed through nonpyrogenic oxidative processes. This study presents a proof-of-concept investigation using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to distinguish charcoal from dark, ConAC-rich materials produced by ambient oxidation of biomass. Pine wood exposed to long-term iron-mediated oxidation was compared with unaltered wood and a controlled laboratory-generated charcoal reference. Conventional geochemical analytical methods, including benzenepoly(carboxylic acid) (BPCA) analysis, Fourier transform–ion cyclotron resonance–mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS), solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and elemental analysis, confirmed substantial …

Crisis Communication Guidebook For Small And Medium-Sized Food Business: From Theory To Practice, Yixin Li

Masters Theses

This creative thesis aims to develop a practical crisis communication guidebook for small and medium-sized food businesses. Compared with larger businesses that have greater human and financial resources, small and medium-sized food businesses are often more vulnerable to the influences of crises on revenue and reputation. For this reason, they have a bigger need for practical and systematic crisis guidance. This project is grounded in crisis communication theory and analyzes existing literature in order to translate academic research and theoretical knowledge into an applied guidebook.

The guidebook is organized into three sections based on the timeline of crisis development: before …

Teachers' Perceptions And Professional Uses Of Artificial Intelligence In Education, Lexie Coartney

Masters Theses

This study explores Illinois teachers’ perceptions and professional uses of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. A mixed methods approach was implemented, including a survey completed by 137 Illinois teachers and four interviews. The research questions examined teachers' perceptions of AI, their professional use of AI, and their approach to students’ use of AI. Findings concluded that participants generally hold positive perceptions of AI, especially its time-saving abilities and being supportive, while also holding concerns including reliability, accuracy, and ethical issues. Results showed that 77% (n = 106) of teachers use AI tools mostly for lesson planning, creating assessments, differentiation, …

Long-Term Compositional Shifts In The Fish Community Of The Wabash River, Olivia R. Wertman

Masters Theses

There is concern about declining biodiversity in the world today and an increasing need to monitor biodiversity through collecting data and gauging changes occurring in biodiversity over time. Large river fish communities are one area of particular interest due to their sensitivity to environmental changes. One program seeking to address this is the Long-Term Survey and Assessment of Large River Fishes, LTEF, which monitors fish populations in the large rivers of Illinois. In this study, I assessed changes in the fish community of the lower 322 km of the Wabash River from 2010-2025 using annual direct current boat electrofishing surveys …